Swingset suspension

ABSTRACT

A trampoline swingset suspension includes a trampoline frame having at least three legs. A trampoline bed is suspended from the trampoline frame. Springs connect between the trampoline bed and the trampoline frame to provide resilient restoring force for a user. The trampoline enclosure frame includes a plurality of vertical trampoline enclosure frame members. An enclosure net is mounted to the trampoline enclosure frame. A swingset frame is mounted to at least two of the at least three legs of the trampoline frame. A swing seat is suspended from the swingset frame. A spring suspension connects the swingset frame to the trampoline frame. The spring is a coil spring having an upper end bounded by an upper pin and the coil spring has a lower end bounded by a lower pin.

This application is a continuation of copending U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 13/618,159 filed Sep. 14, 2012, entitled Trampoline SwingsetSuspension the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is in the field of backyard sports equipment,namely trampolines and swingsets.

DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART

Traditional trampolines did not have enclosures. Recently, enclosureshave become the industry standard. Trampolines now incorporate a varietyof different features. Inventor Samuel Chen combined a trampoline with aswing set as described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,909,738 issued Mar. 22, 2011,entitled trampoline swingset, the disclosure of which is incorporatedherein by reference. The present invention is an improvement over theprevious trampoline swingset.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A trampoline swingset suspension includes a trampoline frame having atleast three legs. A trampoline bed is suspended from the trampolineframe. Springs connect between the trampoline bed and the trampolineframe to provide resilient restoring force for a user. The trampolineenclosure frame includes a plurality of vertical trampoline enclosureframe members. An enclosure net is mounted to the trampoline enclosureframe. A swingset frame is mounted to at least two of the at least threelegs of the trampoline frame. A swing seat is suspended from theswingset frame. A spring suspension connects the swingset frame to thetrampoline frame. The spring is a coil spring having an upper endbounded by an upper pin and the coil spring has a lower end bounded by alower pin.

The swingset frame has a swingset outside rail structurally connectingthe pair of swingset feet. The swingset frame has a pair of enclosureswingset vertical members that form a part of the trampoline enclosureframe. The trampoline enclosure frame can be formed as a plurality ofarches. The trampoline swingset junction connector bolt connects an apexof the swingset frame to a swing swivel. A swing seat is suspended fromthe swing swivel portion of the swingset frame. The swingset frame has apair of swing set feet located at an outside direction of the trampolineframe. The pair of swingset feet each have a swingset foot springsuspension. The spring is a coil spring having an upper end bounded byan upper pin and the coil spring has a lower end bounded by a lower pin.The spring suspension is located within a hollow portion of thetrampoline enclosure frame, and the spring provides a generally verticalforce.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an assembled view of the swing assembly showing the springsuspension in broken view.

FIG. 2 is an assembled view of the swing assembly showing the springsuspension in broken view when the swing is swinging to the left.

FIG. 3 is an assembled view of the swing assembly showing the springsuspension in broken view when the swing is swinging to the right.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the present invention with the spring 122enlarged.

FIG. 5 is an assembly diagram showing hardware connection.

The following call a list of elements is a useful guide in referencingthe elements of the drawings.

101 Trampoline Frame Long Horizontal Member

102 Trampoline Frame Short Horizontal Member

103 Trampoline Frame Junction Connector

104 Trampoline Swingset Right Junction Connector

105 Trampoline Swingset Left Junction Connector

106 Trampoline Frame Vertical Member

107 Enclosure First Vertical Member

108 Enclosure Second Vertical Member

109 Enclosure Horizontal Member

110 Enclosure Swingset Vertical Member

111 First Swingset Apex Member

112 Second Swingset Apex Member

113 Swingset Outside Upper Vertical Member

114 Swingset Outside Lower Vertical Member

115 Swingset Outside Reinforcing Member

116 Swingset Outside Left Rail

117 Swingset Outside Right Rail

118 Trampoline Frame Vertical Member Cover

119 Trampoline Frame Base Rail

120 Trampoline Frame Base Rail Cap

121 Swing

122 Trampoline Bed Spring

123 Trampoline Swingset Junction Connector Bolt

124 Enclosure Swingset Horizontal Member Connection Screw

125 Swingset Outside Reinforcing Member Connection Pin

126 Swingset Outside Vertical Member Connection Pin

127 Enclosure Swingset Vertical Member Connection Pin

128 Swingset Outside Rail Connection Pin

129 Swingset Outside Reinforcing Member Lower Connection Bolt

130 Swingset Apex Connection Bolt

131 Swing Swivel Connection Bolt

132 Hex Tool

133 Spring Pulling Device

134 Screwdriver Tool

135 Small Screwdriver Tool

136 Small Wrench

140 Spring

141 Upper Pin

142 Lower Pin

143 Spring Retainer

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A trampoline with a swingset has a trampoline frame, an enclosure, atrampoline bed and a trampoline swingset. Although a variety ofdifferent trampoline structures can be implemented, a trampoline framehaving a three legged configuration is shown in the drawings andspecification. Each leg of the frame has a pair of vertical membersconnected by a horizontal member. Each loop of the enclosure has a pairof vertical members connected by horizontal member. Here, the loops ofthe enclosure are formed as arches.

The trampoline frame as a general circular ring shape made from tubularsteel members. The trampoline frame supports a trampoline bed which isheld by springs. To assemble the trampoline frame, trampoline frame longhorizontal members 101 and the trampoline frame short horizontal members102 are connected together at the trampoline frame junction connectors103. Also, a trampoline swingset right junction connector 104 and atrampoline swingset left junction connector 105 are connected to thegenerally circular trampoline frame.

Six trampoline frame vertical members 106 attach to the trampoline framejunction connectors. The trampoline frame vertical members can insertinto a socket of the trampoline frame junction connectors. Similarly,the trampoline frame junction connectors can have a left and rightsocket for receiving for a trampoline frame short horizontal members andthe trampoline frame long horizontal members. Each pair of trampolineframe vertical members is used for forming a leg.

The enclosure is formed of an enclosure first vertical member 107 and anenclosure second vertical member 108 with an enclosure horizontal member109 extending between the enclosure first vertical member and theenclosure second vertical member.

The swingset frame and the trampoline frame are integral. A swingsetframe is smaller and has a smaller footprint than the trampoline frame.The swingset frame and the trampoline frame overlap at at least one ofthe legs where the swingset frame for a portion of the enclosure. Aspart of the enclosure, the enclosure swingset vertical members 110provide an enclosure frame to hold a net. The net provides a safetyrestraint for users.

The apex of the swingset is the higher area of the swingset frame fromwhich the swing is suspended. The apex here is formed by attaching afirst swingset apex member 111 to the enclosure swingset verticalmember. The enclosure swingset vertical member is in turn mounted to thetrampoline swingset junction connector. The second swingset apex member112 similarly is connected to the enclosure swingset vertical memberthat is connected to the trampoline swingset right junction connector.

The swingset outside upper vertical member 113 is connected to theswingset outside lower vertical member 114 to form a swingset outsidevertical member. The swingset outside vertical member is connected tothe swingset outside reinforcing member 115, which in turn is connectedto the swingset outside rail. The swingset outside rail can be assembledby connecting the swingset outside left rail 116 to the swingset outsideright rail 117. The swingset outside left rail may have a socketconnection with the swingset outside right rail.

The leg of the trampoline also includes a trampoline frame verticalmember cover 118 for covering the trampoline frame vertical member. Atrampoline frame base rail 119 connects the pairs of trampoline framevertical members. The trampoline frame base rail can have a plasticcover over a tube of reinforcing steel inside the plastic cover.Optionally, the trampoline frame vertical member rests on the trampolineframe base rail 119. The trampoline frame base rail can be plasticinjection molded with a pair of openings that are sealed by a number oftrampoline frame base rail caps 120.

The final step of assembly to install or hang a swing 121 to the apexarea of the swingset frame. A user must install a number of trampolinebed springs 122 to pull the frame of the trampoline together around thetrampoline bed.

A variety of different key connections are suggested in assembling thetrampoline swingset. The trampoline swingset junction connector bolt 123passes through each of the six junction connectors. The six junctionconnectors have an opening for receiving the swingset junction connectorbolt. Four trampoline frame junction connectors, a trampoline swingsetright junction connector and a trampoline swingset left junctionconnector are the six junction connectors. The junction connectoropening is horizontally formed. The trampoline frame vertical membersmay have a horizontally formed opening that matches the junctionconnector horizontal opening. Preferably, the trampoline frame verticalmembers are secured to the junction connectors by a bolt such as theswingset junction connector bolt.

The swingset junction connector bolt can pass through the trampolineframe long horizontal member and the trampoline frame short horizontalmember that are inserted into the sockets of the swingset junctionconnector bolt. The alternating nature of the long horizontal member inthe short horizontal member provides that the long horizontal member beinserted to a left or right socket of the swingset junction connector.Similarly, the short horizontal member can be inserted into a left orright socket of the swingset junction connector opposing the longhorizontal member.

The enclosure is preferably secured together by a set screw. Preferably,an enclosure swingset horizontal member connection screw 124 secures theenclosure vertical member to the enclosure horizontal member. Theenclosure vertical member to the enclosure horizontal member may have asocket connection. After the enclosure swingset horizontal memberconnection screw is installed, a foam sleeve is preferably drawn overthe enclosure vertical member and the enclosure horizontal member. Thefoam sleeve also preferably covers the location of the enclosureswingset horizontal member connection screw.

The swingset outside reinforcing member connection pin 125 provides aconnection between the swingset outside reinforcing member and theswingset outside vertical member. The swingset outside vertical membermay have a socket or protrusion for connecting to the swingset outsidereinforcing member. Preferably, the swingset outside reinforcing memberconnection pin passes through the socket or protrusion of the swingsetoutside vertical member and also passes through the upper end of theswingset outside reinforcing member so as to secure than together.

The swingset outside vertical member connection pin 126 is similar tothe other pins because it has a shaft portion that is smooth on theexterior but with a threaded tip to receive a bolt. The bolt and shaftportion comprise the pin. The swingset outside vertical connection pinconnects the swingset outside upper vertical member to the swingsetoutside lower vertical member so as to form a swingset outside verticalmember. A second swingset outside vertical connection member pin alsomakes a connection between the second swingset apex member and theswingset outside upper vertical member.

The enclosure swingset vertical member connection pin 127 makesconnection between the trampoline swingset junction connector and theenclosure vertical members such as the enclosure first vertical memberand the enclosure second vertical member. The junction connectors have asocket facing upward that receives the enclosure vertical members. Boththe enclosure vertical members and the socket of the junction connectorsare drilled or form with an opening to receive the enclosure swingsetvertical member connection pins. If there are a total of six junctionconnectors, there will be a total of six enclosures swingset verticalmember connection pins disposed in an upper portion of the junctionconnectors. The upper portion of the junction connectors can be formedas sockets that are at a higher level than the trampoline framehorizontal members.

The swingset outside rail connection pin 128 connects the pair ofoutside rail members together to form the outside rail. A swingsetoutside reinforcing member lower connection bolt 129 passes through alower surface of the outside rail to secure the swingset outsidereinforcing member to the outside rail.

The top portion of the swingset is an apex that has a pair of paralleltubular members connected together by a swingset apex connection bolt130. Perpendicular to the swingset apex connection bolt 130 is a swingswivel connection bolt 131. The swingset apex connection bolt securesthe swing swivel between the pair of tubular members as seen in FIG. 5.The pair of tubular members may have round cross-section fitting into anarrow hourglass portion of the swing swivel. The swing swivel can beformed as a punched sheet of metal strip folded to have a pair of lowerends. The swing swivel can be formed as a bracket shown in the figure.The lower ends of the swing swivel are suspended from the apex of theswingset. The pair of lower ends of the swing swivel are connectedtogether at the swing swivel connection bolt 131. Preferably, the swingswivel connection bolt passes through a link of a chain of the swingseat.

A variety of different tools can be used for assembling the trampolineframe. Preferably, some simple tools may be included with the trampolineframe. A hex tool 132 can be useful for securing nuts and a springpulling device 133 may have a handle with a hook for grabbing ends ofsprings. Additionally, a screwdriver tool 134 and a small screwdrivertool 135 can be used with a small wrench 136 to tighten and assembleparts.

After assembly, the swingset is suspended on its legs and on thetrampoline frame. Those swingset has preferably four suspension points,with two located at two lower ends of the enclosure swingset verticalmember 110, and with two at lower ends of the swingset outside lowervertical members 114. The swingset suspension has both dampening andresilient forces. Preferably, a spring 140 is retained by a pin whichprovides telescopic movement toward countering high frequency vibrationsand oscillations. The spring can be a coil spring having a diameter lessthan the tube of the frame so that the spring fits inside the frame. Thespring is preferably retained at a spring upper end by an upper pin 141and also preferably retained at a lower end by a lower pin 142. A springretainer 143 may cover an end of the spring and also fit inside thetubular frame, or be in telescopic configuration with the tubular frame.

The swingset and trampoline both generate vibrations that can dampeneach other through the mass spring system. The motion of the suspensionspring within the trampoline frame also generates dampening friction.Dampeners may be added to the suspension spring for greater dampeningcontrol.

1. A swingset suspension comprising: a. a swingset frame; b. a swingseat suspended from the swingset frame; and c. a spring suspension onthe swingset frame, wherein the spring suspension has frame suspensionsprings.
 2. The swingset suspension of claim 1, wherein the spring is acoil spring having an upper end bounded by an upper pin and wherein thecoil spring has a lower end bounded by a lower pin.
 3. The swingsetsuspension of claim 1, wherein the swingset frame has a swingset outsiderail structurally connecting a pair of swingset feet, wherein the pairof swingset feet are mounted to the swingset frame.
 4. The swingsetsuspension of claim 1, wherein a swingset apex connection bolt connectsan apex of the swingset frame to a swing swivel, wherein a swing seat issuspended from the swing swivel portion of the swingset frame.
 5. Thetrampoline swingset suspension of claim 1, wherein the spring suspensionis located within a hollow portion of a swingset frame, and wherein thespring provides a generally vertical force.
 6. The swingset suspensionof claim 1, wherein the swingset frame has a pair of swingset feet,wherein the pair of swingset feet each have a swingset foot springsuspension.
 7. The swingset suspension of claim 6, wherein the spring isa coil spring having an upper end bounded by an upper pin and whereinthe coil spring has a lower end bounded by a lower pin.
 8. The swingsetsuspension of claim 6, wherein the swingset frame has a swingset outsiderail structurally connecting a pair of swingset feet, wherein the pairof swingset feet are mounted to the swingset frame.
 9. The swingsetsuspension of claim 6, wherein a swingset apex connection bolt connectsan apex of the swingset frame to a swing swivel, wherein a swing seat issuspended from the swing swivel portion of the swingset frame.
 10. Thetrampoline swingset suspension of claim 6, wherein the spring suspensionis located within a hollow portion of a swingset frame, and wherein thespring provides a generally vertical force.